Washington DC – (January 20, 2021) SALDEF congratulates President Biden and Vice-President Harris on their historic inauguration. History was made today with the inauguration of the first woman vice-president – but that is not all. This afternoon/evening, President Biden signed the first set of executive orders on the top issues facing America today. SALDEF applauds these orders as many relate to priorities of the Sikh American community, particularly towards promoting religious tolerance, immigration, and promoting diversity and equity.
“SALDEF is looking forward to working with President Biden and Vice-President Harris,” said Kiran Kaur Gill SALDEF Executive Director. “As we see the rollout of these executive orders, we find many of our values and priorities in line with those of the new administration. We hope that the next four years will be productive and that we can work in collaboration with the White House.”
In a significant move for religious freedom and tolerance, the President has repealed President Trump’s Muslim Ban. The order promoted stigmas against the Muslim community and encouraged bias against immigrant communities. Its repeal represents a major policy victory for SALDEF, and we continue to advocate for the passage of the NO BAN Act.
The Biden administration also took steps to counter the years of an anti-immigrant policy of the past administration. SALDEF is encouraged by the new administration’s actions to strengthen DACA and seek a solution for the Dreamers, reprioritize enforcement, and stop construction of the border wall. Further, the administration took steps to ensure that all persons, regardless of background, are included in the Census count, which will be used to determine representation in Congress and in the states.
Finally, SALDEF is encouraged that the administration has taken a stand to promote diversity and equity. Notably, the President has repealed the ban on diversity training at the federal level, allowing the Sikh American community to promote cultural awareness amongst policymakers and government officials. Further, the administration has repealed discriminatory rules targeting the LGBTQ+ community. The President also ordered a government-wide initiative to advance racial equity.